G'day guys just curious to know if any one has read much on the Romanian IAR 80, and how it fared in operations? Thanks Kym
Robinson: A neat little fighter aircraft used by the Romanians effectively in the defense of Polesti and other sites of import. Many US bombers were shot down by what the crews thought were Fw190s, but were in fact IAR80s. (Maybe Che can post-up a photo of one?) Very distinctive aircraft and I wish I had one in 1/48 scale for my collection. Tim
Not to my eyes. The cockpit is much further back, pointing to very different internal arrangements. And the Fw 190 was much bigger, weighing half as much again. About the only things they had in common were that they were monoplane fighters with radial engines! Tony Williams: Military gun and ammunition website and discussion forum
IIRC the IAR80 was actually designed using the rear fuselage of the Polish PZL11 fighter coupled to a bigger engine and with a different wing. (picture from http://wmilitary.neurok.ru ) (Picture from http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org )
The IAR 80 remained i service until 1949, so it couldn't have been all bad. They also made a more versatile version, if not more advanced, in the IAR 81. The latter was replaced on the production lines by the Bf 109G-6 in 1943.
